Corporation for Public Broadcasting will shut down in 2026

In a significant blow to public media, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has announced plans to cease operations in 2026. This decision follows a controversial move by the White House, which labeled NPR and PBS as a "grift" and pushed for a Senate vote that resulted in the elimination of CPB's entire budget. The Senate's vote withdrew a staggering $1.1 billion that Congress had earmarked for CPB to support public broadcasting for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027. For the first time in over fifty years, CPB finds itself without federal funding, leading to a painful acknowledgment from its president and CEO, Patricia Harrison, that the organization must prepare for closure. "Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations," Harrison stated. In light of the funding cuts, many concerned citizens rushed to donate to local NPR and PBS stations, raising an estimated $20 million, although it fell short of covering the lost federal support. As the CPB begins its shutdown process, the majority of staff positions are expected to conclude by September 30, 2025, the end of the fiscal year. Following this, a small transition team will be tasked with ensuring a smooth and responsible closeout of operations by January 2026. This team will handle compliance, final distributions, and the resolution of long-term financial obligations, including the continuity of music rights and royalties critical to the public media landscape. Harrison emphasized CPB's commitment to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting partners throughout this transition with transparency and care. NPR's president and CEO, Katherine Maher, expressed deep concern over the impending loss of CPB, noting its role as a vital funding source for local stations, a champion of educational and cultural programming, and a defender of independent journalism.